as in symphonies
a usually large group of musicians playing together
the orchestra will be performing a selection of Beethoven pieces tomorrow night
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Recent Examples of orchestras
Blind auditions are a standard for orchestras, where the musicians perform behind a screen or closed doors so that race, gender and size are not a factor.
—
Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026
Networks often embraced these musicians as guests on programs and even as employees who led and played in network orchestras.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Apr. 2026
Michael Gerdes, director of orchestras at San Diego State University, leads the lectures.
—La Jolla Light, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
As early as 1888, Kansas City was reported to have a hundred mandolin clubs, and, by the turn of the century, all the major East Coast cities had mandolin orchestras.
—Tim Parks, New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2026
Some of his earlier memories are of dancing at family birthday parties or big public carnival events where the country’s top orchestras would play.
—Natalia Favre, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2026
Rising to fame in the 1940s as a crooner with the Harry James and Tommy Dorsey orchestras, Sinatra quickly became a solo sensation, his smooth baritone and intimate phrasing redefining popular music for a generation of listeners.
—Michelle Duncan, Architectural Digest, 24 Mar. 2026
If nothing else, playing off winners gives orchestras, conceptually speaking, terrible reputations.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026
Much of that owes to Jonny Greenwood’s score — its cello solos replacing the genre’s traditional guitar strings and sweeping orchestras — which gives the onscreen action an otherworldly feeling.
—Sezin Devi Keohler, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Mar. 2026
Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026
Networks often embraced these musicians as guests on programs and even as employees who led and played in network orchestras.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Apr. 2026
Michael Gerdes, director of orchestras at San Diego State University, leads the lectures.
—La Jolla Light, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
As early as 1888, Kansas City was reported to have a hundred mandolin clubs, and, by the turn of the century, all the major East Coast cities had mandolin orchestras.
—Tim Parks, New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2026
Some of his earlier memories are of dancing at family birthday parties or big public carnival events where the country’s top orchestras would play.
—Natalia Favre, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2026
Rising to fame in the 1940s as a crooner with the Harry James and Tommy Dorsey orchestras, Sinatra quickly became a solo sensation, his smooth baritone and intimate phrasing redefining popular music for a generation of listeners.
—Michelle Duncan, Architectural Digest, 24 Mar. 2026
If nothing else, playing off winners gives orchestras, conceptually speaking, terrible reputations.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026
Much of that owes to Jonny Greenwood’s score — its cello solos replacing the genre’s traditional guitar strings and sweeping orchestras — which gives the onscreen action an otherworldly feeling.
—Sezin Devi Keohler, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for orchestras
symphonies
Noun
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In addition to leading symphonies in San Francisco and Miami, Thomas also served as music director of the Buffalo Philharmonic in New York, principal guest conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
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At least two symphonies are performing in Hartford and Bridgeport.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Orchestras.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/orchestras. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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